Category: Writer’s Notes

By Ann Parker

“You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.” ― Colette

Since April is the month Thonie has asked us to confess those times when we might have lost our minds and all good sense, I had to think hard and go back a ways in time and space.

There was that summer, decades ago, when I rather blithely (and, yes, foolishly) stuck out my thumb and hitchhiked (! solo !) in patched jeans, embroidered workshirt, and “Janis Joplin” style wire-rim glasses through parts of Wyoming. (Truckin’ by The Grateful Dead sums up the gestalt of those long-ago days.) Let’s just say that, since I’m writing about it now, all’s well that ends well… but it could just as easily have all gone sideways on me and very badly at that.

More recently, while conducting research for my Silver Rush historical mystery series, I foolishly ended up in a “tight spot” on a deserted road in Leadville, Colorado. “The Boulevard” appears in early Leadville articles and descriptions—in fact, it’s mentioned several times in an 1880 Daily Chronicle article, quoted here, about Ulysses S. Grant’s visit to town. (You can also find a great photo of The Boulevard by William Henry Jackson on my Pinterest site, here.) However, by the time I went looking for it in 2005 or so, it seemed to have fallen off the map. Honestly, how could a wide, macadam road described as “so smooth that it had nary a straw to impede the wheels of a carriage” disappear so completely? Finally, in an early-version Google Maps satellite image, I spotted the faintest track heading out of town in the right direction through a wooded area.

Determined to set foot—if not wheels—upon The Boulevard, I printed out the grainy blown-up image and drove my little gutless rental car through a church parking lot at the edge of town, looking for a trace. And, by gosh! There it was! A barely visible dirt road.

Or was it a hiking trail?

I hesitated a moment, warnings and legal admonitions from the rental car agreement flashing through my mind. No unpaved roads. Assume all liability. Etc. Etc.

I put the car into gear, eased off the clutch, and pushed on.

I drove that poor little car, shuddering and grinding, down the rubble-strewn more-a-track-than-a-road for maybe a quarter of a mile. The rocks littering the “boulevard” got larger. I slowly negotiated a sweeping curve and, dead ahead, there it was: a huge boulder. Blocking the… well, it was no longer a thoroughfare but more like a path.

That was the end of the road for my yellow rental economy sedan. And there was, alas, no room for turning around. So, I shifted into reverse and backed up the curve and around all the rocks and rubble. I held my breath the entire time until I had completed my retreat to the parking lot.

Since then, I’ve kept my foolishness limited to impulse buys (! for research !) on eBay. Which is how I’ve managed to amass a modest collection of Victorian trade cards from 1880s for my most recent book in the series, A DYING NOTE. Imprudent, perhaps, but much safer than off-roading or hitchhiking, since the only victim is my wallet.

~~~

About Ann

Ann Parker authors the award-winning Silver Rush historical mystery series published by Poisoned Pen Press. The newest, A DYING NOTE, brings her protagonist Inez Stannert to Victorian San Francisco, California. During the day, Ann wrangles words for a living as a science editor/writer and marketing communications specialist (which is basically a fancy term for “editor/writer”). Her midnight hours are devoted to scribbling fiction. Visit annparker.net for more information. You can also find Ann on Facebook, Twitter, and muddling around on her Pinterest boards.

A DYING NOTE is available in paper and e-book—find buy options here

By Thonie Hevron

It’s after April 1st, so the pranks and jokes are over. But not the theme for April’s Writer’s Notes-April Fool. So, funnies aside, this could be terribly serious. We all have felt the fool. We’ve all made mistakes. We hope to learn not only from ours but from others. No joke.

Looking back on my writing career, I’ve made some serious gaffes. With regret but not misery, I offer them for you. You might learn something.

• The first foolishness was waiting so long to write with purpose. By saying, “write with purpose,” I mean having an objective. I write novels—thrillers in the police procedural genre. Oh sure, it took 35 years to gain experience in law enforcement. Then, to discern my statement: Police work is a noble profession that should attract courageously moral. But on this journey, I could’ve written more than procedure manuals and newspaper columns. I’d like to have a drawer full of short stories and more of the stories inspired by the people they’re about. Like the detective who almost went postal because someone took his typewriter. Or the young girl who slept with men to smooth her path to police officer. Then there’s the rookie cop who makes a bad/good choice that follows him throughout his career. Conversely, the veteran who faces a career-altering situation and must decide in a second.

The good news is, I have a cigar box filled with scraps of paper. Future stories—short or novel, doesn’t matter. I’ll never run out of ideas!

• The second relates to the first. It is procrastination. In my mid-fifties, I decided to write seriously—I mean, write a mystery. Mysteries have always been my genre choice. From Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt as a teenager, Michael Crichton, Robin Cook, in my thirties and now Patricia Cornwell, PJ Parrish, David Baldacci, Michael Connelly and Lee Child. It wasn’t until I read Paul Bishop’s Tequila Mockingbird (an LAPD detective, BTW), that I learned to find my voice. Thank you, Paul! Storytelling became so much easier. That is, factoring in organization–a game plan, an outline, synopsis or whatever I needed to guide me through the clues, red herrings, and car chases. Finding that structure led me to complete my first novel, and encouraged the next one. And so on. I must acknowledge my local chapter of California Writers Club, Redwood Writers for not only cheering me on, but offering the kind of education I needed: goal setting, planning, craft techniques and my critique group.

It’s a wonderful thing to be in a room full of introverted writers who are there for the love of the craft.

• Which brings me to the third: believing those strident interior voices who say I’m not good enough. Like when I was a young girl, I told my mother I wanted to be an archeologist when I grew up. She said, “Only rich people can afford to do that.” Silly me, I believed her. After parenting my own kids, I was able to understand my mother’s motives—she wanted me to get a good, stable occupation, like a teacher. Still, I chipped away, writing inconsistently and often not finishing stories. Later, in the mid-1990s, my husband offered to take over the laundry, cooking and household while I wrote. I knew that I had enough talent to see my project through. I mean, what makes a man gives up fishing for a vacuum cleaner? He must have believed in me. Through his validation, I internalized my own. I decided I didn’t need an MFA to write good stories. Granted, and MFA could make mine a great story, but I don’t have the time for that now. I have stories in my head that are screaming to get out.

Thankfully, I have readers who enjoy them.

~~

On April 13th, Scott Decker, retired FBI agent and author of Recounting the Anthrax Attacks, writes about being fooled by the lab (FBI) with forensic methods purported ready for prime time—but after using them and hoping to take the results to court, finding out the techniques were all bogus. Ann Parker’s post on April 20th will take you on an adventure she’d rather not repeat. On April 27th, Judy Alter’s post features some hard-learned lessons about waiting for agents.

Please join us on Writer’s Notes every Friday morning—see if you can learn (as a writer) from our foolish tales. Then, on Sunday morning, read the real stories behind the badge written by LAPD veterans from different eras.

Stir Things Up by Paty Jager

Boy, do I stir things up! But I think in a good way. Others may not think so.
The theme that runs through every book, every novella, every short story I write is justice or redemption. Life is messy. I don’t care who you are, you have been through something that you felt a victim and couldn’t get justice, or you did something that may or may not have been your fault, but you have to show that isn’t who you are.
There are too many predators, mean people, and jerks in this world that you can’t go unscathed if you’ve lived very long.

And because of this, I bring subjects to my books that some people may not like; but they are real and they happen every day to someone. I hope that my books and stories, even though they are mysteries and westerns both contemporary and historical, that they show lives can be turned around and justice can be found.

I read few historical westerns where they talk about the woman having a period, going to the bathroom, or what was used for contraceptives in the late 1800’s in the west. Because those are topics some people wonder about—How did they take care of that back then? I have used these scenarios in books. I have a curious mind, I wondered and researched. Then I used it.

The contemporary books deal more with abuse and people who are different, and someone finally takes the time to discover they are just the same as you and me.
My current Shandra Higheagle Mystery release deals with sexual harassment in a high school. I believe, as it is mentioned in my book, that there is always someone else who knows what is going on and could put a stop to it, but doesn’t for whatever reason. Again, this topic while it is hot in the media, wasn’t why I picked it.

I knew my main character Shandra Higheagle was volunteering at a high school, and I needed to come up with someone to die and a reason for his death. I thought back to my time in high school and the science teacher who gave all the girls who wore dresses and sat in the front row an A. It was common knowledge all over the school. Yet, no one, not another teacher or the principal said anything to the teacher. I made the murder victim more lecherous. And gave the principal a reason why he didn’t do anything when female teachers complained about him harassing them.

In the end, justice prevails. I won’t tell you how, because that would give away the story.

My next series starts with a human body found with a wolf collar on his neck in an area that is full of turmoil over the wolves returning in so many numbers to the area. Yes, I love to stir things up!

What about you? Do you like to write or read books that bring in things you don’t normally see in a book, or that could be controversial?

~

Artful Murder
Book ten in the Shandra Higheagle Mystery Series
Secrets… Scandal… Murder…
An autistic boy and his brother need potter Shandra Higheagle’s help when a teacher’s body is found after a confrontation with the older brother. Shandra knows the boy is innocent. Digging into the teacher’s life, she and Ryan turn up scandal.
Detective Ryan Greer has believed in Shandra’s dreams in the past, but she can’t always be right. When his investigation uncovers a principal on the take, females being harassed, and parents kept in the dark, he discovers more suspects than the brothers. Shandra’s time at the school is coming to an end, and the killer has struck again.

Universal buy link https://www.books2read.com/u/bapvjq

About Paty
Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 32 novels, 6 novellas, and numerous anthologies of murder mystery and western romance. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. This is what Mysteries Etc says about her Shandra Higheagle mystery series: “Mystery, romance, small town, and Native American heritage combine to make a compelling read.”

blog / website / Facebook / Paty’s Posse / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest / Bookbub

By Thonie Hevron

Routine can be a good thing, right? Honestly, sometimes it can be deadly. Doing the same things at the same times every day creates habits. It’s said it takes two weeks of repetition to make a behavior a habit. I’ll admit it—I’m a creature of habit. Maybe it’s a result of an exciting career in law enforcement, the bulk in dispatch. No two days were ever the same. Frankly, the excitement was one reasons I loved the job. Every day was different. Believe me, after thirty-five years, I was ready for some boredom. Give me a chance to etch out a routine, please!

But in reality, most people’s lives are exciting in some way or another. Their days are different, even if it’s merely taking the long way home. What I’m talking about is doing something the same way all the time.

When I wrote my first novel, I used an outline. As with subsequent books, I adjusted the outline as the story took detours. It’s a system that has worked for me through three novels. I’m now on my fourth book and feel that I need to shake things up a bit.

So, my mystery ending is a mystery to me. Granted my characters are established—this is the fourth in the Nick and Meredith Mysteries. My previous publisher named the series and I’m sorry to say they’re not mysteries at all. They are thrillers. In each of the three (By Force or Fear, Intent to Hold, and With Malice Aforethought) it’s apparent who the bad guy is early in the story. The reader’s enjoyment is the wild ride to the conclusion of the dilemma. But the fourth book, working title is Felon with a Firearm, is different. This is a mystery, which I’ve outlined to a level where I can write the story. The difference is the mystery—who did the bad deed and why. I’ve got three variations for three different characters. I’m a third of the way done and at this point, I don’t know for sure who is responsible for the robbery/homicide that is the instigating event. I should be afraid, but I guess I’m too naïve a writer for that. I believe I can make the ending exciting, authentic and satisfying. If it isn’t, I’ll go back and re-write it until it is.

This time, I’m switching things up. While I’m not bored with the previous three books’ formula, I just wanted to try something different.

How about you? Do you “stir things up?” in your writing? Do you always write in first person? A writer friend in my critique group decided to write her cozy mystery in the present tense. She said it felt more natural that way. Her previous two books were past tense. And she’s right—this book is better for the difference.

Serita Stevens

Paty Jager

Just the Facts, Ma’am Writer’s Notes has some exciting posts for your consideration this month. March is “Stir Things Up” month. I get a little cabin fever in March so it’s time stir things up. Time to see what other authors do to stay fresh, remain true to their mission, and keep real. On March 9th, Serita Stevens tells us about writing authentic mysteries, not the TV version (the CSI effect—ala instant DNA results). March 16th will feature Paty Jager stirring up historical Westerns. CJ Verburg’s post appears on March 23rd and Janet Finsilver winds up the month on the 30th.

Be sure to check in. You might learn something new, something different. And don’t forget to share your comments for “Stirring Things Up.”

~

And if you’re in the Marin/Sonoma area on Saturday, March 3rd, stop in to Novato’s Margaret Todd Senior Center, 1560 Hill Road, for the Spring Crafts Fair. Thonie will be there from 10am-3pm selling and signing her books.